Device for turning electric-car signs.



I No. 796,766- PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

' J. M. SMITH.

DEVICE FOR TURNING ELECTRIC GAR SIGNS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1905.

FEE--1. L-

W=UHB=U AJLUQ UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH M. SMITH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO GEORGE L. CHURCH, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

DEVICE FOR TURNING ELECTRIC-CAR SIGNS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, i 1905.

Application filed January 20, 1905. Serial No. 241,932,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH M. SMITH, of

Worcester, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Turning Electric Car-Signs, of which the following is a specification.

Figure 1 represents a vertical section through the upper front end of an electric car looking toward the front of the car and showing a back view of the usual rotary sign thereon and my improved device for turning the same from the inside of said car. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of said device and part of the sign shown in Fig. 1, all the following figures also being shown upon an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal section through part of the upper front end of the car, showing an inner side view of the sign-turning device. Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the device. Fig. 5 is a top or plan view with the central part of the rotary sign broken away. Fig. 6 is a front view of one of the sign-pivot bearings. Fig. 7 is an end view of the signpivot which fits therein; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line a, Fig. 6, through said sign-pivot bearing.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which may be connected with the pivotshaft of an ordinary rotary car-sign, whereby said sign may be turned from the interior of the car, said device being provided with an indicator for positively identifying each name on the sign from said interior.

Said invention comprises certain improvements upon a similar device for which Letters Patent of the United States were granted to me under date of September 18, 1904:, and numbered 770,125, and which improvements will now be set forth in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In said drawings, A represents part of the roof or an ordinary electric car, and B is one of the usual rotary signs mounted on the front and rear ends of said car and having pivots B B at the ends fitted in suitable bearings C C, one pivot B resting in the plain bracketbearing C, and the other, B in the bearing C,'forming part of my improved device D. The pivot 'B forms a continuation of the shorthorizontal shaft E, which is fitted to turn in bearing C when the sign is fitted in place.

It is fitted to turn with said shaft E and also to be detached therefrom by forming a transverse slot E in the end of the shaft,into which the flanged end B of the pivot fits. 'A collar E on the bearingC,l1aving a slot in one side, fits over the slotted end of shaft E and holds the pivot B in position laterally from slipping out of its holding-slot. After having fitted the flange B of the pivot in slot E the sign is turned to bring the ends of the slot under the solid portion of collar E and thus prevent said pivot from slipping out laterally therefrom. In practice said parts are made and adjusted to bring the ends of the slot under the solid part of the collar when the sign is turned to the proper position to bring the name desired to be displayed thereon in its proper position, and thereby hold said sign from being shaken out of its bearings by the motion of the car.

It is preferable to make the flange B slightly beveled, as shown in Fig. 7, and to correspondingly bevel the slot E, in whichit fits, so that the flange can be inserted or detached only from one side, thereby reducing the liability of accidental displacement; but I do not limit myself to the shape of said flange and slot, the essential feature being to form a detachable connection between the parts rather than the special construction thereof. Upon the shaft E is mounted a fixed bevelgear F, which engages with another bevel-gear Cr, secured to the upper end of a vertical shaft 1, fitted to turn in suitable fixed bearings and having the operating-handle J and indicatorfinger K mounted on its lower end.

Between a fixed horizontal plate L and the car-roof A is also mounted on shaft I a horizontal disk or wheel M, having notches M at intervals around its periphery, in which the end of a spring N engages, the opposite end of said spring being secured to some fixed point. The notches in said disk M are of sulficient depth and the spring of sufficient strength to hold the disk, and in consequence the shaft I and parts connected therewith, from accidentally turning, but not with sufficient strength to prevent the same from being easily turned by the operating-handle J to adjust the sign into any desired position. After having been thus adjusted it is held in position by said notched disk and spring until forcibly turned, as aforesaid, to bring another name on the sign into position. In practice said notches are formed at the proper points to hold the sign with its front face side vertical after each adjustment, the number of said notches being governed by the number of sides to the sign.

In the drawings I have shown atriangular sign-that is, a sign with three names upon it-one upon each face; but I of course do not limit myself thereto. The positions of the names on the sign are indicated upon the inside of the car, so that the conductor or motorman may always display the proper name to designate the destination of the car with- .out leaving the interior thereof by means of an indicator-plate O and the indicator-finger K, previously referred to. Said indicatorplate is made detachable and has printed or otherwise displayed thereon the same names as appear on the sign outside and so arranged thereon in relation to the indicator-finger that when said indicator-finger is turned by the operation of handle J to point to any given name thereon the same name will be brought into position at the front face of the sign. In this instance said indicator-plate is arranged horizontally just under the plate L and is fitted to slide in suitable guideways L L in the bottoms of the side frames L L, which support said plate. A'slot L is formed in the indicator plate to permit it to be slipped into position over shaft I, and it is provided with a suitable holding-spring P for holding it in position after adjustment.

The gears F and G may be protected from the weather by forming a casing on the hearing C, which entirely incloses the same, as is shown in the drawings, said casing being provided with a hinged cover C having a suitable fastening G. A hood Q may also be provided over the connection B 15 to protect said connection from the weather. I have shown said hood only in Figs. 2, 3, and 8, in Fig. 2 part of the same being broken away to more clearly illustrate the connection under the same.

It is often desirable to operate the sign from the outside, and to provide means for doing so I extend the horizontal shaft E outside of its bearing and secure a hand-wheel R thereto, whereby said shaft, and in consequence all the connecting parts, including the sign, are turned the same as though operated I by handle J upon the inside.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the conductor and motormanhave the operation of the usual rotary sign completely at their control in displaying any desired name on the sign without stepping outside of the car.

What I claim as new and of my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

sign, with a device for turning said sign and displaying any desired name thereon from the interior of said car, comprising a horizontal shaft with the inner end of which, one of the pivots of the sign maybe engaged and disengaged, the bearings of said shaft, a bevel-gear mounted on said shaft, a Vertical shaft, its bearings, a gear mounted on the upper end of said vertical shaft adapted to engage with the first-mentioned gear, a notched disk also mounted on said vertical shaft, a fixed holding-spring engaging therewith, a detachable indicator-plate arranged within the car adjacent to the vertical shaft, means for supporting it in place, an indicator-finger on said vertical shaft and means for operating the device to turn the sign, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the car and its rotary sign, the latter having a flanged pivot, with a horizontal shaft having its inner end slotted to receive said flanged pivot, the frame in which said shaft turns having a slotted collar fitting over the slotted end of the shaft, a gear mounted on said horizontal shaft, a vertical shaft, its bearings, a gear mounted on the upper end of said vertical shaft engaging with the first-mentioned gear, a notched disk also mounted on said vertical shaft, a fixed holding-spring engaging therewith, a detachable indicatorplate arranged within the car adjacent to the vertical shaft, means for supporting it in place, an indicator-finger on said vertical shaft, and means for operating the device to turn the sign, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the car and its rotary sign, the latter having a flanged pivot, with a horizontal shaft, having its inner end slotted to receive said flanged pivot, the frame in which said shaft turns, having aslotted collar fitted over the slotted end of the shaft, a vertical shaft, its bearings, a gear mounted on the upper end ofsaid vertical shaft engaging with the first-mentioned gear, the casing for inclosing said gears, having a suitable door and means for fastening it, the hand-wheel on the outer end of the horizontal shaft, anotched disk mounted on the vertical shaft, a fixed holding-spring engaging therewith, a detachable indicator-plate arranged within the car adjacent to the vertical shaft, means for supporting it in place, an indicator-finger on said vertical shaft, and means for turning said shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. Inadevice for turning car-signs, the comhination of the car and vertical shaft of the device, with the indicator-plate, the supporting-frame thereof, having guideways to receive said indicator-plate, means for holding the indicator-plate in said guideways, the indicator-finger on said vertical shaft, and means for turning said shaft, substantially as and 1. The combination of the car and its rotary for the purpose set forth.

ing, and for turning it by hand, and means for operatively connecting the vertical shaft with the sign, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

JOSEPH M. SMITH. Witnesses:

ALBERT A. BARKER, EVERETT N. BARKER. 

